Governor Tina Kotek decided in the final week of 2024 not to bring in industrials lands adjacent to Hillsboro into the region’s Urban Growth Boundary for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing.

Prior to this decision, successful bipartisan legislation, the Oregon CHIPS Act (Senate Bill 4), had authorized the Governor the time-limited power to designate land — up to eight sites — currently outside of Urban Growth Boundaries to be brought into surrounding cities for semiconductor and other advanced manufacturing developments.  

Key lands adjacent to Hillsboro were specifically identified as areas eligible for consideration by the Governor’s authority. However, the deadline to use this power ended on December 31, 2024.

Describing a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to secure billions of dollars of federal semiconductor investments — and the resulting living-wage jobs — Governor Kotek’s Deputy Chief of Staff Vince Porter facilitated a public meeting on Thursday, October 10 at the Hillsboro Civic Center. 

The meeting, which was required by Senate Bill 4 (SB4) in coordination with the City of Hillsboro and Washington County, followed Governor Kotek’s announced plans to add 373 acres land near Highway 26 and east of Jackson School Road — into the Urban Growth Boundary.

Areas adjacent to Hillsboro were identified as the most viable option for additional large scale semiconductors sites due to:

• proximity to existing semiconductor cluster

• concentration of talent and workforce

• proximity to suppliers

• Hillsboro's proven record of delivering the sites and infrastructure needed by this industry 

Governor Kotek released a statement on Friday, December 27, 2024, about the decision to not bring in lands by the deadline, but underscored the importance of industrial lands to the State’s economic future, and that “the constraints of Senate Bill 4 limit her authority at this time.”

Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway provided the following statement on the decision:  

“This is a missed opportunity — not only for the people of Hillsboro and Washington County, but for the State of Oregon — to secure our economic future,” Callaway said.

We appreciate our partners who worked with us in taking proactive steps to plan, prepare and maximize the potential of eligible lands identified by Senate Bill 4 and the Semiconductor Task Force.

As a result, these lands have never been more ready to meet the needs of industry as they are today. However, in order to realize and seize these opportunities, we are still left needing action from the State.”